GARNER - Francis J. Rayhons, 74, of Garner died Sunday (January 11, 2009) at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, MN.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Thursday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan with Frs. Brian Dellaert and Henry Huber officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Duncan.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 P.M., Wednesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan with a Catholic Workman rosary at 7 P.M. followed by a Scriptural wake service. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials may be given in his name to St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.

Francis John Rayhons, the son of Henry and Agnes (Kopacek) Rayhons, was born May 16, 1934, on the family farm northwest of Garner. He attended country school near his home and graduated from Garner High School in 1950. Francis continued his education at Iowa State University in Ames for a short time before moving back home to help on the farm. On January 25, 1955, he married Lois J. Helps at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Duncan. They made their home on a farm northwest of Garner where they raised their eight children and farmed. Francis also milked cows for 37 years, raised feeder cattle and was a seed dealer for Hawkeye Seed Company and Prairie Brand Seeds for a number of years. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren's activities, watching local sporting events, polka music and was an avid Iowa State fan.

He was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church where he served as a lector and eucharistic minister, Catholic Workman FCSLA Branch w51, Farm Bureau and was a lifelong blood donor.

Francis is survived by his wife, Lois, of Garner; eight children, Steven Rayhons of Mesa, AZ, Julie (Earl) Beshey of Garner, Susan (Tim) Speers of Storm Lake, David Rayhons of Garner, Gregory (Sandy) Rayhons of Garner, Jerome (Tracey) Rayhons of Altoona, Lisa (Dana) Sindelar of Indianapolis, IN and Laurie (Kevin) Merryman of Maxwell; grandchildren, J.W. (Tiffany) Rayhons and their two children, Chase and Michayla, Preston and Blake Rayhons, Eric, Evan and Nicole Beshey, Jeff and Matt Speers, Alesha, Brianna and Trevor Rayhons, Shannon and Mariah Rayhons and Carter, Rylee and Haylee Merryman; siblings, Henry V. (Donna) Rayhons of Garner, Teresa (LeRoy) Preuschl of Garner, Evelyn (Paul) Grandgenett of Wesley, Agnes (Jerald) Zeihan of Marshalltown, Lawrence (Carole) Rayhons of Lenox , George (Mary) Rayhons of Corpus Christi, TX , Mark (Kathy) Rayhons of Garner and Mary (Gene ) Rasmussen of Ames; a brother-in-law, Harlan (Loraine) Helps of Mason City; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Kathryn in 1962; an infant grandson, Clinton Rayhons; and a sister-in-law, Marvalyn Rayhons.
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